We think it will be seen from this that the test 
to which we submit the “mother roots” we select 
for planting 1 for Seed, is at once crucial and thorough. 
It strikes, indeed, at the very physiological system of the root. 
One important fact is brought to light from a searching analysis 
of the physiology of Turnips and other roots, and that is the 
divisions into which the constituent parts are formed; one 
consisting of merely circulatory and unappropriated constituents, 
and the other of secreted and fixed. Our aim and intention is to 
make the one subservient to the other. Experience has led us 
to the conclusion that this test must be made at a certain period 
of the life of the root, and that the roots intended for seed must 
be grown to a size, at which period of growth all the qualities it 
is desired to perpetuate are developed. Careful analysis, made 
at different stages of development of a root, has shown that at 
different periods different constituents are brought out, or the same 
constituents in different proportions. The root has not the same 
percentages of sugar, water, and other compounds at all periods 
of its growth ; the relative proportions are determined mainly 
by the development and age of the plant. We have profited 
by this, and have adopted the system of selecting roots for 
seeding purposes at the period of growth, when the proportions 
are most favourable to an increased percentage of sugar and 
other digestible matter, and consequently a decreased proportion 
of water, so that latent powers of the root for developing feeding 
qualities are brought into play before the plant is stimulated to 
throw up seed bearing stems. 
Modern knowledge of the use of manures has been the 
means of transforming barren wastes into fruitful places of the 
earth, but it has been mainly operative upon the external con- 
ditions rather than upon the constitution and inherent powers 
of the roots themselves. Our efforts have now been directed to 
work upon these, to lay hold of and develop those qualities 
which make for value, suppressing and nullifying, where possible, 
those elements which render no service whatever to man or beast. 
By playing- upon the subtle forces which build up 
and enter into the very constitution and character 
of the different species, suppressing- the weak and 
developing- the strong-, we are evolving- hardier races 
and more g-enerous food producers. 
The analysis of a large number of roots reveals a great vari- 
ation in solids ; the least proportion of dry matter is sometimes 
found in the largest root, or conversely — the larger the root the 
greater the proportion of water ; also a large amount of dry 
matter with little feeding value. 
The fact is that the size of the roots depends upon a set of 
varying circumstances ; the manures enter largely into the matter ; 
the constitution of the soil, the treatment, the space given to them 
to grow, and other conditions. This is so far recognised that no 
farmer ignores them. But the external conditions, as before 
stated, are not everything ; the inherent quality of the root, its 
origin and history, its breed and constitution affect the result to 
a larger degree than is generally supposed. This is also recog- 
nised in a way by the fact that every farmer has his own parti- 
cular variety, which he thinks brings him better results than 
others — a discriminating power which will be justified if he takes 
those varieties which have in themselves perpetuated the qualities 
he requires for his cattle. 
Attempts have been made in the past by agricultural 
chemists to trace to their causes the variations of the feeding 
qualities in different roots, while elaborate experiments have 
been made on the assumption that the variations were due in 
the main to the difference in the soil and manuria! compounds, 
so that by varying the manures according to the soil the feeding 
values could be materially affected, if not largely controlled; 
but while we do not underate the results, we venture to say 
that they have gone to establish the fact that the difference is 
so largely dependent upon the variety and breed of the plant, 
that theories which left this out of calculation proved to be some- 
what illusory. Not that difference in manures is a negligeable 
quantity; on the contrary, evidence resulting from our investi- 
gations goes to prove that phosphatic manures, from the fact 
that they favour bulb formation and promote early maturity, may 
contribute indirectly in an important degree to an increased 
percentage of dry matter, provided that the powers of assimilation 
are studied. 
Many of the theoretical investigations which have been 
made, both in this country and on the Continent, on the many- 
sided subject of the assimilation of the nutritive elements by plants 
and roots, have brought out apparent contradictions ; and we are 
not concerned so much with supporting this or that theory as we 
are with following the line of least resistance, in helping nature 
to secure for the farmer and the stock-keeper the greatest advan- 
tage possible in the food yielding powers of his crops. 
We have found that in keeping Swedes and Turnips over 
the winter some have proved to be practically valueless when 
internally examined. If after being left in this way they are 
divided through the centre, some are found to contain a large 
empty cavity, some show signs of decomposition of greater or 
less volume, and yet in some of these cases no signs of decay have 
been seen from the outside. It is conclusive in such cases that we 
must look to the constituent parts of the roots to account for 
this. Comparing these variations in decay with the variations 
in the constituent parts of the same crops, at the time of lifting, 
we are led to the conclusion that the best keepers of each variety 
can be determined, not only by keeping them, but by our new 
method ; and that if these only be planted the keeping quality 
is raised. 
We have fortunately had opportunities of study- 
ing- processes abroad as well as in this country. We 
have been able to profit by the experience of the skilled conti- 
nental scientists, who have laboured for generations in the 
improvement and productive power of Beets, many of their 
conclusions resulting from scientific investigations of many years 
duration, applying equally to Mangel and other roots. 
We are fully conscious of the pitfalls into which experi- 
menters in the field we are now surveying may unwittingly 
fall, and of the necessity of conducting the operations not only in 
a conscientious and painstaking manner, but also in the light 
of others who have placed upon record the result of their labours . 
hence the comprehensive character of our investigations, not 
only to ensure that all possible elements of doubt should be 
eliminated, but also to take advantage of all elements calculated 
to promote our object, and by establishing, step by step, and 
CARTERS', 237, 233, & 97, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON.— 1901. 
